What's considered rude that travelers do in Madrid?

Eating or drinking while walking is the single biggest marker of a tourist who hasn't read the room. Madrileños eat at tables, full stop, and doing otherwise signals that you treat the city like a theme park. Similarly, sitting down at a bar, ordering one coffee, and immediately asking for the check is tolerated but noticed; the expectation is that you stay, take your time, possibly order again. Tipping is genuinely optional here, not a moral obligation, but rounding up or leaving small coins is fine; Americans who over-tip conspicuously make locals uncomfortable in a different way. Wearing gym clothes or beachwear into anything other than a park draws quiet contempt, particularly in Salamanca or the city center. Showing up to dinner before 9:30 p.m. won't offend anyone, but insisting the kitchen open earlier, or expressing audible frustration that lunch is still going at 4 p.m., marks you as someone who wants Madrid to conform to your schedule rather than the other way around.

Trip Friend knows Madrid cold.

Plan a real trip there, and Trip Friend can answer every follow-up — with your dates, your style, and your places baked into the conversation.

• Where do locals actually go for aperitivo in Madrid?
• Where do locals drink coffee in Madrid?
• What does a local breakfast look like in Madrid?
• Where is the street food in Madrid actually good?
• Where can I eat after midnight in Madrid?
• How do I get from the airport to the city in Madrid?